# Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/c/miscellaneous-and-personal-stuff-i-must-share/10.md?page=15 [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) **Page:** 16 --- ## [The National Spelling Bee](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-spelling-bee/176876)
**Author:** [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [May 27, 2026, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-national-spelling-bee/176876 "2026-05-27T05:25:37Z")
The Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee is coming! This annual contest features adolescents from all over the country spelling words most of us have never heard of. It will air live on ESPN Wednesday and Thursday. I … --- ## [Past Posts or Topics/Discussions on this or other message boards that give you nostalgia/"take you back"/preserve important events/are still relevant/et al](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/past-posts-or-topics-discussions-on-this-or-other-message-boards-that-give-you-nostalgia-take-you-back-preserve-important-events-are-still-relevant-et-al/1030421)
**Author:** [@Past\_Paper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Past_Paper)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [May 27, 2026, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/past-posts-or-topics-discussions-on-this-or-other-message-boards-that-give-you-nostalgia-take-you-back-preserve-important-events-are-still-relevant-et-al/1030421 "2026-05-27T01:09:59Z")
I’ve been diving through a million old threads in the archives here, and some of them are pretty cool time capsules (August 2007 discussions of Superbad, discussions centered around life in the early to mid-00s, people’s… --- ## [What should I do regarding my EEAM?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-regarding-my-eeam/1030416)
**Author:** [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Fun_Ball)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [May 27, 2026, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-regarding-my-eeam/1030416 "2026-05-27T01:04:32Z")
I am looking for opinions on what I should do, but first the background. I am an engineer and for the last 16 or so years I have been working at a research institute dedicated to space science. My education is in physi… --- ## [A large underwater volcano is erupting north of Papua New Guinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-large-underwater-volcano-is-erupting-north-of-papua-new-guinea/1030057)
**Author:** [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [May 26, 2026, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-large-underwater-volcano-is-erupting-north-of-papua-new-guinea/1030057 "2026-05-26T19:57:10Z")
That’s not the really newsworthy part. That the volcano is creating an ash and steam cloud despite being a half-mile underwater is. --- ## [Trying to decide which of you I should kidnap](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-decide-which-of-you-i-should-kidnap/1030348)
**Author:** [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Replies:** 69\ **Last updated:** [May 26, 2026, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-decide-which-of-you-i-should-kidnap/1030348 "2026-05-26T19:37:23Z")
Here’s the deal - I’m going to sneak up behind you, drop a sack over your head, and spirit you away to a secure location as I await the ransom payment from your family and/or friends. What can I expect to get for you? T… --- ## [So what does ChatGPT think of you?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-does-chatgpt-think-of-you/1019275)
**Author:** [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Replies:** 67\ **Last updated:** [May 26, 2026, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-does-chatgpt-think-of-you/1019275 "2026-05-26T16:19:57Z")
We’ve had numerous threads on what we think of ChatGPT. But what does it think of us? I just logged in and got an unusual pop-up that said that GPT now has a sort of holistic memory of all our chats, and a button to cl… --- ## [I have a lovely flock of cardinals!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-lovely-flock-of-cardinals/1030342)
**Author:** [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [May 26, 2026, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-lovely-flock-of-cardinals/1030342 "2026-05-26T12:04:25Z")
Right in front of my kitchen window is a bird bath, sitting below this huge old cedar tree. It is amazingly popular, especially in the morning. Blue jays, robins, doves, grackles. a slew of slightly differing ‘little b… --- ## [Touristy things you went to that don't exist any more](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/touristy-things-you-went-to-that-dont-exist-any-more/1030073)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 299\ **Last updated:** [May 25, 2026, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/touristy-things-you-went-to-that-dont-exist-any-more/1030073 "2026-05-25T22:06:07Z")
I used to go to the Seattle back in the early 80’s, taking the Seattle Ferry from Bremerton to Seattle, and one of the things I visited (and rode on) was The Bubbleator. It was a humungous dome elevator with a 360 degre… --- ## [My Memorial Day speech this morning](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-memorial-day-speech-this-morning/541400)
**Author:** [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Replies:** 67\ **Last updated:** [May 25, 2026, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-memorial-day-speech-this-morning/541400 "2026-05-25T16:57:27Z")
I was asked to give the Memorial Day speech in Bay Village, on the west side of Cleveland, Ohio, this morning. Here’s what I said: Congressman Kucinich, Mayor Sutherland, honored guests, my friends and fellow citizens: … --- ## [If anyone can spare me between $6M to about $9 million, there are some books I wanna buy!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-anyone-can-spare-me-between-6m-to-about-9-million-there-are-some-books-i-wanna-buy/1029310)
**Author:** [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [May 25, 2026, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-anyone-can-spare-me-between-6m-to-about-9-million-there-are-some-books-i-wanna-buy/1029310 "2026-05-25T06:25:52Z")
These books: They are Shakespeare’s First four Folios, including in effect, a “First Edition” of most of his collected play… --- ## [(Old) The Heat Is On - A Heat Wave MMP](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-the-heat-is-on-a-heat-wave-mmp/1030168)
**Author:** [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Replies:** 281\ **Last updated:** [May 25, 2026, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-the-heat-is-on-a-heat-wave-mmp/1030168 "2026-05-25T02:56:26Z")
The temps are supposed to be in the mid 90s the first half of the week. I’m gonna Frey at work. :wink: But right now it’s 71 degrees Ferret Height(21.667 Centipedes). Spot is sacked out somewhere. But I’m up, caffein… --- ## [Grenfell Tower fire (London)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grenfell-tower-fire-london/788926)
**Author:** [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Replies:** 336\ **Last updated:** [May 25, 2026, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grenfell-tower-fire-london/788926 "2026-05-25T01:20:36Z")
This could be really bad. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/grenfell-tower-fire-live-updates-10619185 No fire alarms unless a resident installed one. No coordination of rescue services, of which there are 100… --- ## [YouTube "forbidding" ad blockers. Concerns, if any?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youtube-forbidding-ad-blockers-concerns-if-any/991493)
**Author:** [@DKW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DKW)\ **Replies:** 640\ **Last updated:** [May 24, 2026, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youtube-forbidding-ad-blockers-concerns-if-any/991493 "2026-05-24T22:21:50Z")
Well, it finally happened: Youtube is throwing up a think-of-the-poor-starving-megacorporation banner in response to ad blockers. In my experience, this generally happens when the ownership gets a case of runaway hubris … --- ## [An Amazon delivery-My story begins](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-amazon-delivery-my-story-begins/1030336)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [May 24, 2026, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-amazon-delivery-my-story-begins/1030336 "2026-05-24T21:15:17Z")
So, yesterday morning I ordered a couple of large paperback books from Amazon Prime. They were supposed to be delivered this morning and, by gum, I got a notice in my email this morning that they arrived and were signed… --- ## [Citi Bank has 27 different credit cards](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/citi-bank-has-27-different-credit-cards/1030222)
**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [May 23, 2026, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/citi-bank-has-27-different-credit-cards/1030222 "2026-05-23T17:43:12Z")
When I went to pay my monthly balance I saw on the splash page that they have 27 different freakin’ cards! I took a casual look and they do indeed seem to be different, at least in name. I note that ten of them are card… --- ## [Pre-op live!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pre-op-live/1030280)
**Author:** [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Replies:** 26\ **Last updated:** [May 23, 2026, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pre-op-live/1030280 "2026-05-23T17:16:44Z")
Ask me anything. I’m waiting on the big show. Surgeon is late. No explanation. I’m all fasted, not easy. Took a whole day in hospital. I’ve had the pre-op shot. So I’m a bit out of control. Don’t be alarmed if I fall … --- ## [My wife believes all the woo on her phone](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wife-believes-all-the-woo-on-her-phone/1029924)
**Author:** [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Replies:** 51\ **Last updated:** [May 23, 2026, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wife-believes-all-the-woo-on-her-phone/1029924 "2026-05-23T14:47:51Z")
Nearly all of it is AL videos. Today she showed me a “cure” for a painful knee ( I think). It involves making a salve of olive oil, coriander seed and a bay leaf among other things. She is determined to try it despite ev… --- ## [Why did Customer Service Go From Phone, to Email, and Back Again?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-customer-service-go-from-phone-to-email-and-back-again/1030272)
**Author:** [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [May 22, 2026, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-customer-service-go-from-phone-to-email-and-back-again/1030272 "2026-05-22T16:18:08Z")
I have a vague memory of a couple of different “styles” of customer service over the last 25 years or so… Wait… I’m not wording this well… Let me try this: my impression is that sometime in the early-ish dot.com era, ma… --- ## [80 years ago today, a dragon's tail was tickled. (It didn't go well.)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80-years-ago-today-a-dragons-tail-was-tickled-it-didnt-go-well/1030293)
**Author:** [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [May 22, 2026, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/80-years-ago-today-a-dragons-tail-was-tickled-it-didnt-go-well/1030293 "2026-05-22T11:22:53Z")
May 21st 1946 was the fatal Slotin screwup with the demon core. I’m wondering what would have happened if the cover hadn’t been removed from the core after it fell? Would the core have melted? How long would it have t… --- ## [Need an excuse for a tempermental mother-in-law](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-an-excuse-for-a-tempermental-mother-in-law/1030253)
**Author:** [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Replies:** 34\ **Last updated:** [May 22, 2026, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-an-excuse-for-a-tempermental-mother-in-law/1030253 "2026-05-22T02:46:58Z")
Dumb situation but here goes anyway. Son is moving back to college this fall. Mother-in-law has decided that’d be a great time to visit him and see his school. She has already booked a hotel there (4 hour drive) for he… --- ## [Confuse the AI](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confuse-the-ai/1030292)
**Author:** [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [May 21, 2026, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/confuse-the-ai/1030292 "2026-05-21T23:20:18Z")
There is a post in ATMB, talking about posters getting Doxxed due to AI searches. So, now is your chance- lie about yourself, to confuse the AI. DrDeth was born in New York. I worked in fast food nearly all my life- Ta… --- ## [Why do they automatically cut off my sideburns?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-automatically-cut-off-my-sideburns/573331)
**Author:** [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Replies:** 28\ **Last updated:** [May 21, 2026, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-automatically-cut-off-my-sideburns/573331 "2026-05-21T18:09:59Z")
I don’t get it! I keep my hair short, but my sideburns a little long (not quite to mid-ear). But when I get my haircut, I have to specifically say to them not to trim the sideburns. The reason I don’t get it is that t… --- ## [Your local regionalisms for institutions and places](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-local-regionalisms-for-institutions-and-places/1030068)
**Author:** [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Replies:** 74\ **Last updated:** [May 21, 2026, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-local-regionalisms-for-institutions-and-places/1030068 "2026-05-21T14:14:38Z")
Prompted by this recent thread about washaterias, I started thinking about the odd terms I’ve heard since moving to New England. Mind you, I’m not talking about things like soda vs pop, or y’all vs yinz…this is about oth… --- ## [Got charged at by a black bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-charged-at-by-a-black-bear/1019176)
**Author:** [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Replies:** 115\ **Last updated:** [May 21, 2026, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-charged-at-by-a-black-bear/1019176 "2026-05-21T07:50:19Z")
Was out for my usual 10 - 15 km hike up into the mountains along old logging roads. Came around a blind corner and there was the bear, about 30 feet in front of me, moseying along heading in the same direction I was. I s… --- ## [Proof of the Existence of God](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-of-the-existence-of-god/1030149)
**Author:** [@Ynnad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ynnad)\ **Replies:** 109\ **Last updated:** [May 20, 2026, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-of-the-existence-of-god/1030149 "2026-05-20T18:58:09Z")
I was watching YouTube yesterday and an ad came on. I was in the other room and couldn’t turn it off right away. It was quite lengthy and religious in nature. They argued that the Declaration of Independence and the U… --- ## [I AR no more!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-ar-no-more/1030114)
**Author:** [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [May 20, 2026, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-ar-no-more/1030114 "2026-05-20T14:32:49Z")
Yep. Apparently I now am in Kansas. Turn on my tablet. First up a Kansas city Star report on Trump’s China debacle. And a weather report update from KMBC…dang it’s hot over there. They stole my AR. --- ## [Getting my teeth pulled out tomorrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-my-teeth-pulled-out-tomorrow/1030177)
**Author:** [@stui\_magpie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stui_magpie)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [May 20, 2026, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-my-teeth-pulled-out-tomorrow/1030177 "2026-05-20T01:35:01Z")
I have what my dentist calls receding gums. At 60, the gums are working back which means the teeth have less to hang on to so they start to get loose. It makes it a pain in the arse trying to eat as your teeth hurt. (Th… --- ## [Murdaugh Murder Timeline: Alex Murdaugh. This story gets crazier by the day](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/murdaugh-murder-timeline-alex-murdaugh-this-story-gets-crazier-by-the-day/950754)
**Author:** [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Replies:** 164\ **Last updated:** [May 19, 2026, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/murdaugh-murder-timeline-alex-murdaugh-this-story-gets-crazier-by-the-day/950754 "2026-05-19T21:53:03Z")
There’s a death in 2015 that is being investigated. The maid died under some mysterious circumstances in 2018. The son Paul is involved in a deadly boating accident in 2019 and he’s charged, but then he and his mom a… --- ## [What's the weirdest room you've seen in someone else's house?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-weirdest-room-youve-seen-in-someone-elses-house/1029512)
**Author:** [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Replies:** 151\ **Last updated:** [May 19, 2026, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-weirdest-room-youve-seen-in-someone-elses-house/1029512 "2026-05-19T19:51:34Z")
Inspired by the thread about the main hallway shower here. Can be either a weird design or just weirdly decorated. Had a friend who’s home had the stairs to the second story that kind of wrapped around the wall, like yo… --- ## [Ignorance-fighting etymological tidbit: what "decimate" really meant in ancient Rome](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorance-fighting-etymological-tidbit-what-decimate-really-meant-in-ancient-rome/1029710)
**Author:** [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Replies:** 118\ **Last updated:** [May 19, 2026, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ignorance-fighting-etymological-tidbit-what-decimate-really-meant-in-ancient-rome/1029710 "2026-05-19T13:08:52Z")
Interesting article on the NPR website today. I knew that people mostly use this word incorrectly (not naming names but you know who I mean) or at least, imprecisely, but geez Louise… Back then it meant something specifi… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/miscellaneous-and-personal-stuff-i-must-share/10.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/c/miscellaneous-and-personal-stuff-i-must-share/10.md?page=16)